Do we have a VN Union?

Re: Do we have a VN Union?

Kirstie Sherman — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 21:38:12 GMT

[quote user="mcboarder"]

[quote user="Caro Laithwaite"]BVNA have in the past represented people legally not me but others. [/quote]

I think its important we hear from the BVNA here to make it clear to all their members if indeed they do legally represent people.

[/quote]

The BVNA do not offer legal representation to members but do offer legal advice by way of a legal helpline.

Kirstie Shield

BVNA Council Member

Re: Do we have a VN Union?

Sal the 1st — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:09:34 GMT

see my post on associated thread - it applies here too!

Re: Do we have a VN Union?

Caro Laithwaite VN — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:00:50 GMT

yes mummy union offical as you wish

Re: Do we have a VN Union?

Jacqueline Gallacher — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 09:44:48 GMT

[quote user="Caro Laithwaite"]BVNA have in the past represented people legally not me but others. [/quote]

I think its important we hear from the BVNA here to make it clear to all their members if indeed they do legally represent people.

Re: Do we have a VN Union?

Caro Laithwaite VN — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 00:20:01 GMT

BVNA have in the past represented people legally not me but others. I pay a small yearly amout to bvna for my fees happy to have a chunk go to the legal side.

A union will NEVER represent you unless they have a lot of money gouged from your wages laughingly called dues. Folks you think you got bad wages now wait until these wonderful unions start gouging what you do get paid. Oh yes sorry they will have negotiated HUGE wage rises for you errmm well fine but have you paid your dues so that they can do that?
And if you think they wont well where do you think their head offices are and there is all those conventions you have to support and all their so called help. Well you want it who do you think will pay.

As l say and will keep saying if you want a union then get out of vn go and work someplace with unions. those of us that do not want unions do not want our pond soiled by their presence and it would be.

Oh and if you loose your job and stop paying cause you need your money ... tank runs dry on you with them. I know enough people that needed them and tough you only paid so much in your meter ran out. Where is your wonderful union then? at least acas has no rules about that and ditto the bvna legal help line is a mangeable amount for when we need them and covers a year.

I do not like politicans thatcher screwed my country the only good thing she really did was to break the unions power in this country.

Re: Do we have a VN Union?

Jacqueline Gallacher — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:59:04 GMT

BVNA and ACAS will give you advice only, they will not represent you legally there is a huge difference.

Re: Do we have a VN Union?

Caro Laithwaite VN — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:39:20 GMT

It depends what is going on ACAS and BVNA legal are there to help if needed and having used both for advice l am happy with them.

Re: Do we have a VN Union?

Jacqueline Gallacher — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 22:40:14 GMT

[quote user="jan"]However whatever procedures are used an employee can't be dismissed without grounds. There is protection out there! [/quote]

What protection Jan? there are employment laws but it costs alot of money to enforce them and not to mention the emotional cost.

Re: Do we have a VN Union?

jan — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:21:47 GMT

Sarah,

How you doing?

Didn't mean to scare anyone with above. Anyway round there is a requirement to have a meeting before giving out warnings to gather the full facts. How is it going? Have you sorted anything out?

Re: Do we have a VN Union?

jan — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:18:23 GMT

Sorry Following the meeting the usual steps are First formal action (usually a written warning & a timescale to change behaviour) then where there is a failure to improve Final written warning then dismissal or other penalty. For gross misconduct it could be dismissal

However whatever procedures are used an employee can't be dismissed without grounds. There is protection out there!

You can ring BVNA or ACAS

Re: Do we have a VN Union?

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:39:22 GMT

Thankyou Jan.

Was your step 1 meant to be the other way round?

Re: Do we have a VN Union?

jan — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:14:35 GMT

Sorry guys unless your works procedures are set out differently & they choose to follow them legally the 3 steps apply

Step 1 Statement of grievance

• The employee must set out the grievance in writing and send the statement or a copy of it to the employer.

Step 2 Meeting

• The employer must invite the employee to attend a meeting to discuss the grievance.

Step 3 Appeal

If the employee does wish to appeal, they must inform the employer.

This is now the legall minimum to aviod unfair dismissal procedures. The old verbal warning etc is no longer required (honestly)

Re: Do we have a VN Union?

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 19:09:44 GMT

AS far as I am aware there is, it's under the code of practice, diciplinary procedures and practices.

You basically get a warning, or a note of conduct, then a 1st written, 2nd written and if anything else happens, then and only then can you be dismissed.

The only time you dont get a verbal or the written warning is if it's gross misconduct.,

Re: Do we have a VN Union?

Mac Feather — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 17:56:33 GMT

didnt know that theres no legal requirement for verbal warning

Re: Do we have a VN Union?

jan — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:00:26 GMT

These days there is no requirement for a verbal warning.

Your employer must write & tell you what you have allegidly done, then they must invite you to a meeting to discuss it, then hold the meeting, then hold an appeal if requested & then thats it

ACAS website givesc details. If the employer doesn't do this then the employee may have grouds for a tribunal for unfair dismissal

Re: Do we have a VN Union?

Claire Kellett RVN — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:04:11 GMT

Hi sarah. I am having a similar problem with my employer. I have been given a written warning today and have had no Verbal warnings previous to this. I am going to appeal against the written warning as feel that it is unfair. But at the moment I feel that i am being used as a scape goat at work and am being blamed for anything and everything that could possibly go wrong. One thing on the warning that made me laugh said; surgery not easily accessible for the vets as drugs/equipment keep being moved to different places. I don't think that moving drugs from a drawer to a cupboard to make them easier to find is such a big problem. But I know how you feel. I'm feeling like they just want me to leave!!!

Re: Do we have a VN Union?

Saskia Quinn — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 20:56:28 GMT

Hi Sarah,

I agree with Shearer on the above. Also, if you dont mind me asking, what were the warnings for?

Re: Do we have a VN Union?

Kirstie Sherman — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 20:47:45 GMT

Hi Sarah,

I'm sorry to hear about your problems at work. I'm glad that you have recieved good advice from the other posters.

The BVNA, as the only representative body for Veterinary Nurses in the UK fulfils many of the conventional responsibilities of a trade union including representation as well as advice on employment issues. I would strongly advise that if you are still having issues with your employment, to give the BVNA legal helpline a call. This service is free to all members and completely confidential if you wish.

Hope this helps

Re: Do we have a VN Union?

Sarah_1983 — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 22:38:38 GMT

I had a look on the Acas website for more info on employment law etc. Think i might go to CAB or phone them for more info too. I dont want to have to go down the route of going to court for unfair dismissal or anything, so hopefully we can come to some agreement before weget to that stage!

I've asked her to write out what exactly what targets she wants me to meet, and how we will know when we have met them etc. So then at least i can show her i have done what she has asked. Then hopefully come time for the review in a month i can say i did what you wanted. I think i'm just going to have to make it as hard for her as i can - i mean like, do everything she wants and more - and make sure she knows it. That way hopefully there wont be anything she can say.

Re: Do we have a VN Union?

Sarah_1983 — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 22:31:34 GMT

Hi Steph; I havent had any verbal warnings in the past. I will have a look at my contract, but i think its a fairly standard thing of one verbal, followed by a written and then a final written warning. I have over the last week considered locum work again, so i contacted the agency i did locum work for before to see what they can sort out. Your very lucking that you got on so well with the practice that you did locum work for!! Thats Great!!

Re: Do we have a VN Union?

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:24:37 GMT

Hi Sarah,

Sorry to hear about your predicament. Your employer should have given 2 verbal warnings before any written one, and it sounds to me like she just wants rid of you, first dropping your hours and now this.Unfortunately for her, she cant do what she has just done and remain with the remits of employment law, and certainly cant sack you unless it was something serious like gross misconduct.

If you are finding it more and more difficult to work there, and especially if your boss is making it that way, then you can leave and would still be in a position to sue under constructive dismissal...I think that is what it is called.Anyway it basically means that your employer left you no choice but to leave due to circumstances.

I know a lot of people would not want to go down this route, and hopefully for you it does not come to that, but if it does, then you are at least within your rights under employment law to take it further.

Good luck and hopefully it will all work out for you.

Re: Do we have a VN Union?

Caro Laithwaite VN — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 15:43:14 GMT

BVNA legal, CAB oe ACAS hit them all cause need the full story but need full legal aid.

Re: Do we have a VN Union?

Steph Worsley — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 15:19:31 GMT

Hi,

As VN's we dont have a union, BVNA will offer free legal advice to members. I am involved in a union but that is only because i work for a university.

I would go to citizens advice and see what they say. Have you had verbal warnings in the past? have you got a contract? if so what doesit say in there regarding warnings etc?

Have you thought about going into locumming whilst you find a permenant job, i did that when i was having probs rang a locum agency got a place to start the following week and went in and virtually told my boss where to stick it (i had only been there a couple of months so didn'thave a notice period) I have now ended up working permenantly at my first locum place and love it.